Quick-release belt clamp

ABSTRACT

A QUICK-RELEASE BELT CLAMP ASSEMBLY, GENERALLY USABLE IN PAIRS TO DRAW TOGETHER TERMINAL ENDS OF CONVEYOR BELTS OR THE LIKE IN WHICH EACH CLAMP ASSEMBLY COMPRISES A PAIR OF JUXTAPOSITIONABLE CLAMP PLATES HINGEDLY CONNECTED IN SPACED RELATION AT ONE END, AND IN WHICH A TOGGLECLAMP IS HINGED AT THE OTHER END OF ONE OF THE PLATES AND CLAMPINGLY AND DETACHABLY ENGAGEABLE OVER THE OTHER END OF THE OTHER PLATE FOR RELEASABLY CLAMPING THE PLATES ON A BELT END, IN WHICH THE TOGGLE CLAMP INCLUDES AN L-SHAPED LEVER INCLUDING AN ANTIFRICTION ROLLER AND IN WHICH RELEASABLE LOCK MEANS IS PROVIDED TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL RELEASE OF THE BELT-CLAMP ASSEMBLY, AND IN WHICH THE ASSEMBLY INCLUDES ANCHOR MEANS WHEREBY PAIRS OF COOPERATING ASSEMBLIES, AFTER BEING MOUNTED ON BELT ENDS, CAN BE READILY DRAWN TOGETHER.

Sept. 28., v1971 v BURGESS 3,608,155

QUICif-RELEASEv BELT CLAMP Filed 0G13. 16, 1969 /j ZZ H66 mVNToR. H54 v BVV/APL 50265.55

Aria/Mm United States Patent Int. Cl. F16g 3/00 U.S. Cl. 24--32 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A quick-release belt clamp assembly; generally usable in pairs to draw together terminal ends of conveyor belts or the like in which each clamp assembly comprises a pair of juxtapositionable clamp plates hingedly connected in spaced relation at one end, and in which a toggleclamp is hinged at the other end of one of the plates and clampingly and detachably engageable over the other end of the other plate for releasably clamping the plates on a belt end; in which the toggle clamp includes an L-shaped lever including an antifriction roller and in which releasable lock means is provided to prevent accidental release of the belt-clamp assembly; and in which the assembly includes anchor means whereby pairs of cooperating assemblies, after being mounted on belt ends, can be readily drawn together.

INVENTION `GEN'ERALLY This invention relates to an improved releasable beltclamp assembly of the character generally disclosed in the patents to Grifen et al. 770,637 or Jones 1,006,224, for example.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION To provide an improved quick-releasable belt clamp; generally usable in pairs during belt splicing and the like, in which the clamp provides means for readily grasping a belt end and in which the clamp is rmly engaged on the belt end, and in which the clamp includes means whereby a pair of clamps, engaged on spaced belt ends, can be readily drawn together; to provide in an improved belt clamp, novel releasable latch means including a toggle latch.

These together with other and more specic objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment taken in conjunction with the drawing forming a part thereof and in which:

FIG. l is a top plan View showing a pair of clamps r installed on adjacent ends of a belt, and showing diagrammatically means for drawing the clamps together;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing the clamp in an open condition, and illustrating by phantom lines and direction arrows, the manner in which the clamp is manipulated to a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing the clamp in a closed condition;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the two clamp plates of a clamp, looking at the inner surfaces thereof;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the plane of line 5 5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged end elevation looking from the plane of line 6--6 of FIG. 3.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION 04F THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing in detail, and rst considering FIG. l, a relatively large conveyor belt includes terminal ends 10 and 12 which are to be spliced, for example. Ihe belt-ends 10 and 12 respectively have removably secured thereon, clamp assemblies '14 and 14 (identical in con- 3,608,155 Patented Sept. Z8, 1971 struction) which after being fixed in secured relation on these belt ends are drawn together in any suitable manner by turnbuckle means 16 shown diagrammatically by phantom lines.

Each of the clamp assemblies is similar in construction, and thus only one will be described in detail i.e. assembly 14 (see FIGS. 246). The clamp assembly 14 comprises a lower and upper clamp plate :18 and 20, respectively, which are preferably elongated and rectangular; see FIG. 4. As seen in FIG. 4, the plates respectively include friction-increasing elements 22 and 24 (which could also comprise recesses or the equivalent) and which cooperate with the belt ends to grippingly clamp the material therebetween.

The clamp plates 18 and 20 will be hingedly connected together at overlying ends 26 and 28 by a toggle-like hinge 30, see FIGS. 3 and 5. The hinge 30 includes hinge pins 32 and 34 extending transversely through suitable bores in the respective plates 18 and 20, and the pins are connected by retention pins 36 having an intermediate loop portion 38. The loop portion provides an anchor for the suitable turnbuckle means 16 shown in phantom lines in lFIG. 1.

Fixed to the other end 40 of the lower clamp plate 18, for example, is a toggle-clamp -42 which is releasably engageable over end 44 of clamp plate 20. The toggleclamp 42 comprises a shaft 46 (see FIG. 6) to which is connected a pair of flanking rods 48; including lateral, apertured anchor plates L50 (having same function as loop portions 38). The rods 48 are terminally pivoted to ends of a transverse shaft 52 which passes through an intermediate portion of an L-shaped lever S4. The lever 54 includes a short toggle-arm y56 and an elongated manipulating leg 58. The toggle-arm 56 includes a transverse support shaft 60 upon which is journaled an anti-friction wheel 62.

The clamp plate 20 includes an intermediate, upwardly extending pair of lock plates 64 which flank the pivotal path of manipulating leg 58 and receive the leg therebetween; the plates `64- are apertured to receive a lock pin 66 therethrough.

OPERATION As previously mentioned, the clamp assemblies 14 and 14 are secured on the belt ends 10 and 12, respectively, and are drawn together by any suitable means 16 utilizing anchor loop portions 38 and anchor plates 50.

Referring to FIG. 2, the clamp plate 1-8 is placed beneath belt end 10 and clamp plate 20 is juxtaposed thereover. The toggle-clamp 42 is moved from the solid line position of `FIG. 2, to the dotted line position, this lost-motion movement being permitted by the rods 48. The toggle-arm 56 and the wheel y62 journaled thereon are pivoted onto the upper surface of plate 20. The manipulating arm 58 is then pivoted as indicated by the upper, dotted arrow in FIG. 2, which moves the toggle arm through slightly more than (compare IFIGS. 2 and 3) -which causes irm clamping of the belt 10 between plates 18 and 20. With the leg 58 in position between plates 64, a lock pin 66 is installed.

Removal of the clamp assemblies is readily apparent, the pin 66 is removed, and the leg 58 is pivoted from the solid line position of FIG. 3 to the solid line position of IFIG. 2; the long lever arm 58 providing sufficient mechanical advantage required to accomplish the opening and closing functions.

I claim:

1. A clamp assembly comprising:

a pair of elongated clamp plates;

hinge means at one end of said plates connecting said plates on a transverse pivot axis for relative pivotal movement with respect to each other; and

a clamp assembly hingedly connected on a transverse pivot axis to the other end of one of said clamp plates;

said clamp assembly comprising a lever including an oiset anti-friction element and a handle for pivotal movement onto and over the other end of said other of said clamp plates; said hinge means comprising hinge pins extending transversely through said clamp plates at one end of the plates and connected by pins flanking the clamp plates.

2. The structure as claimed in claim 1 including lock means on the other of said clamp plates for releasably engaging said manipulating leg.

3. The structure as claimed in claim 2 in which said lock means comprises a pair of opposed, apertured plates disposed in flanking relation to the path of pivotal movement of said manipulating leg for removably receiving a lock pin in transverse overlying relation to said manipulating leg when the leg is disposed between said plates.

4. A clamp assembly comprising:

a pair of elongated clamp plates;

hinge means at one end of said plates connecting said plates on a transverse pivot axis for relative pivotal movement with respect to each other; and

a clamp assembly hingedly connected on a transverse pivot axis to the other end of one of said clamp plates;

said clamp assembly comprising a lever including an offset anti-friction element and a handle for pivotal movement onto and over the other end of said other of said clamp plates; said clamp assembly comprising rods anking the other end of said one clamp plate and pivoted at one end on said transverse pivot axis, said lever being L-shaped and including a short toggle-arm and an elongated manipulating leg,

said lever being pivoted on said rods at a portion References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 285,908 10/1883 Ludington 24--30.5UX 600,869 3/ 1189.8 Hankin 25 4-54 65 6,75 5 8/ 1900 Stewart 24248.2UX 724,837 4/1903 Fischer 254-54 1,482,662 2/ 1924 Sheppard 24-30.5 2,191,626 2/1940 Rogers 254-54 2,619,138 11/1'952 Marler 24-263.4UX

DONALDy A. GRIIFFIN, Primary Examiner 

